Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 22 June 2023

A FASHION and textiles students from NWSLC’s Hinckley College campus was named the winner of the competition to design Hinckley Cycle Racing Club’s brand new kit.

First year student, Gracie Birch, was handed a £100 cash prize after her design for the club’s new shirts was selected and chosen by its members.

HCRC’s Harry Chapman, and chair of the club’s committee, Dr. Eleanor Mather, both presented the brief to students studying textiles at the creative campus, and then later shortlisted their top top three favourite design concepts.

The finalists had their work shared through the club’s official Facebook page, which seen members ‘overwhelmingly’ vote for Gracie’s design in the social media poll.

Picking up second and third places respectively were students Abi MacDonald and River Cooper.

Harry, who leads on riders’ welfare said: “We were extremely impressed by the students’ response to our brief, and we found it really difficult to reach a shortlist because the quality and standard from all of them was so high.

“Having settled on our three preferred concepts, we were very happy for Gracie’s design to be selected with such enthusiasm by our members.”

He concluded: “We are looking forward to putting the designs into production and wearing the new shirts on our social rides and in cycle cross, road racing and mountain-biking competitions within the next few months.

“The club is always open to new members, and we are keen to expand our membership to include more women cyclists.”

Joanne Hall, Fashion and Textiles Lecturer at NWSLC, said: “We were delighted to work with HCRC on this unique brief which provided our students with a live commercial project to test their skills.

“They were all provided with the same template block for the kit and required to design bright and highly visible concepts for health and safety reasons. Seven of the first year students on our course responded and it was great experience for them.

“It has been rewarding to be able to help a local community organisation, and we look forward to seeing the finished articles when they have been produced.”

NWSLC Principal, Marion Plant, said: “Well done to all those students who rose to the challenge and congratulations to Gracie on being selected as the winner.

“Our college loves to work at the heart of its community especially when the projects enable students to practice the skills they have learned as they prepare to join the workforce.”